March 26, 2013 > Knights of Columbus select Milpitas Citizen of the Year

Knights of Columbus select Milpitas Citizen of the Year

Submitted By Lou Horyza

Harriet McGuire has been selected as this year's Knights of Columbus Council 5796 Milpitas Citizen of the Year due to her extensive civic volunteerism and dedication to and the love for the City of Milpitas.

Harriett was Chairman of the City Arts Commission, serving since 2003, a member of the Public Arts Committee, President of the Historical Society for 2011 and 2012. She has served as Vice President and Program Chair of the Historical Society organizing programs, obtaining speakers, planning field trips and organizing the Community Tour in 2011 and 2012. To recognize her contributions, she was awarded an Honorary Life Membership in the Historical Society. The Milpitas Role Model Fashion Show at the Great Mall was the result of Harriett's work with the Historical Society.

As a Co-Founder of Golden Hills Art Association, she has served as Vice President, Program Chair and President of Golden Hills Art Association, and produced the history display for Veterans at City Hall in 2Oll. She currently serves as Vice President of the Association Harriett had a role in the creation of the Community Museum display at the Great Mall for the Historical Society. Harriett's love of the arts includes membership in Olive Hyde Art Guild in Fremont and Gualala Art Guild.

Harriett began working in the Milpitas Adult Education Office in 1978 on a part-time basis where she taught classes at night in Adult Education for the Milpitas Unified School District and East Side School District after receiving her Adult Education teaching credential.

In 1992, Harriett retired from the Milpitas secretarial position and worked in Adult Education at East Side District during the day teaching arts and crafts to adults with disabilities until 2004. She also taught art and seasonal craft classes for Cupertino Recreation department at Quinlan Center in the 80's. She assisted with vocational testing at Ford Plant when the plant in Milpitas closed.

Harriett ran the NTSI Program (traffic school) of the Milpitas Unified School District and monitored GED testing at Elmwood and Adult Education in Milpitas.

Harriett was the first President of Murphy School PTA, a room mother at Murphy School for six years with an Honorary Life Membership in the Murphy School PTA. She is also a member of the home school board at Rancho Middle School, a member of the Home School Board at Ayer High School and currently teaching Arts and Craft for the City of Milpitas

She will be honored along with Police Officer of the Year Joseph Henley and Firefighter of the Year Jeff Frazzitta at the Knights of Columbus 39 Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday April 13th at Pavalkis Hall, St. John's Catholic Church 279 South Main Street, Milpitas. Tickets to the event can be purchased for $30 by contacting Chairman Lou Horyza, 667 Escuela Pl. Milpitas,Ca 95035 or e-mail loupegh@aol.com or phone (408) 263-8779. Other nominees for Citizen of the Year including Joe Santoro, a prominent music instructor and volunteer, and Fire Chief Brian Sturdivant will also be honored.